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3 Participants will… Understand how to choose the right equipment for the right patient at the right time Understand some of the challenges and solutions for safe patient handling of the bariatric patient Understand the different levels of patient handling equipment and what to consider when choosing equipment Have the opportunity to handle and use common safe patient handling equipment.

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7 Washington State Safe Patient Handling Law March 8, 2006 – Signed into law Goal – Reduce injuries among patients and health care workers by manually lifting, moving and repositioning patients. “Safe Patient Handling” – The use of engineering controls, lifting and transfer aids or assistive devices by staff instead of manually lifting to perform the acts of lifting, transferring and repositioning patients.

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10 Guidelines for Choosing Equipment The right equipment for the right patient at the right time –Patient centered –Assess patient each and every time he/she is moved –Use equipment when needing to lift more than 35 lbs of the patient’s weight –Use least restrictive equipment to allow patient to help The patient will only be safe when the health care worker is safe

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12 Assessment of the Patient’s Transfer and Mobility Status 1.Level of assistance – What the pt does, not how much you do for them 2.Weight bearing capability 3.Upper extremity strength 4.Balance 5.Level of cooperation and comprehension 6.Weight/height 7.Precautions/modifiers affecting transfers

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19 6 – Weight/Height Is the pt’s weight/height within the limits of the equipment? If more than 35 lbs. is being lifted during a manual transfer, then lift equipment, transfer aids or assistive devices should be used instead.